Starting in Ocho Rios over the Easter weekend and ending in New Kingston on April 28, Carnival in Jamaica has grown to be a popular affair. While you can experience fetes from Trinidadian party brands, be sure to check out the homegrown events as well.

In its second year, Guyana Carnival is set to be even bigger and better. More emphasis will be placed on Guyanese culture infused with the usual Carnival elements that we have come to expect with each Carnival.

With Skinny Fabulous part of the winning Road March team in T&T, Vincy Mas is expected to take on an added air of exuberance. From all reports, this is not a Carnival for the faint-hearted cause Vincentians go hard especially for their Soca Monarch competition.

Billed as the Greatest Summer Carnival in the Caribbean, Antigua’s Carnival has all the elements of Carnival: Panorama, J’ouvert, costume parades and fetes along with a Soca Monarch competition and Miss Teen and Miss AB pageants.

Saint Lucia’s Carnival forms part of the islands Summer Festival and with the popularity of Dennery Segment the event has seen an increasing influx of revelers. Like T&T, this Carnival has two days of parades with masqueraders parading in full costume on Carnival Monday and in anything they want to on Carnival Tuesday.

An event that traditionally celebrated the end of the Sugar Cane harvest, Crop Over is now a major staple on the Carnival calendar. The Carnival includes a market day, art and craft exhibitions and, of course, the occasional sighting of global pop star Rihanna who was born and raised in Barbados.

With the success of Grenadian artists in T&T’s Carnival this year, Grenada is bracing for an influx of revelers from all over the region especially those who have never experienced the event before. Grenada is home of the Jab Jab and boasts an epic J’ouvert. The Monday night mas, comprising bands in glowing paraphernalia, is a sight to behold.

The biggest cultural fete in the BVI is in Tortola in August, the event is known as the Emancipation Festival and also a August Festival. Activities include pageants, food fair, musical shows, horse races and parades, according to the official website.

In only its fourth year, Uber Soca is now considered an official Carnival. The event takes place aboard a Royal Caribbean ship where soca stars from around the region drive raging non-stop parties while the ship sails to a Caribbean destination for an epic J’ouvert party. In 2019, Uber Soca will be headed to Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos on two sailings.

The last Carnival of the year, St Kitts Carnival takes place in December, culminating on January 2, 2020. The Carnival has its roots in the island’s traditional Christmas Sports and marries elements of that tradition with those of the modern Carnival.

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